If I could change the world…
Today I broke my new broom, the one I received from Mum for Christmas.
Firstly, I must clarify a few things:
- It was a cheap broom; and
- I did actually break it sweeping things – the leaves on my back verandah in preparation for tomorrow’s “Severe” fire danger weather; and
- I have ABSOLUTELY no idea why my Mum gave me a cheap broom for Christmas.
So I broke a cheap broom – it happens all the time! Except that to me today it summarised all that is wrong with the world. An environmental disaster… A symbol of our consumerist society… A token of our throw away mentality and capitalistic ideals… Cheap brooms, and clocks, and toys and fridge magnets are wrong, wrong, WRONG <rant, rant, RANT>!
No, please, stick with me here…
It’s almost New Year – a time to reflect on the year gone past and consider future actions – to make and break resolutions.
Reflecting on the year past, I have learned some amazing things and met some incredible people. It is hard to compare the person I was this time last year with who I am now. In many ways, 2010 has been one of the most challenging, fun and important years of my life.
I have spent more time with my son than ever before (mostly, this is a good thing). I have a business that is actually running (yet to make a profit, but good things take time). I have met some incredibly interesting, inspiring and talented people. I have a completely new circle of friends (including many of those “interesting, inspiring and talented people”).
I have never felt so alive, so excited and so relaxed, except on holidays – or so frustrated, as things take soooooo long to come together – I WANT IT NOW!
I have become a mum in the total sense of the word, discovering that 4 days a week (including weekends) is about my limit (my admiration for full-time mums shows no bounds). The fire-breathing dragon has been to visit a few times. But so has the mum that laughs, tells stories, sings silly songs, climbs up to highest peak of the climbing tower, picks flowers, rolls down hills, makes pasta. A mum who has an encyclopaedic knowledge in philosophy, psychology, physics, geology, biology, literature, history, music, art, drama, geography and metaphysics to keep up with an endless supply of “why”, “how”, “who” and “what”. The mum in love with YouTube – where else are you going to find Harry Belafonte singing the Banana Boat song with the Muppets? And Yo Gabba Gabba? And Dirtgirl?
The mum, who 18 months ago, I never thought I would have the chance to be…
So where to in 2011?
Is it time to change the world?
Certainly there are big plans afoot. With the munchkin in pre-school and a grand 6 hours a day of free time ahead of me, business is high on the agenda. Leaf WILL become a paper communications brand to be aware of. I am certain I will not be in the same position next year with Leaf as I am this year. 2011 will be make or break. I am sure that it will be a BIG year! I will MAKE it a BIG year!
Of course, with the stuff of everyday life, it is a more considered position.
I have always believed in buying good quality things – to last, to love, to admire. As the designer, William Morris once said “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”.
Hence my disdain for cheap brooms (sorry Mum!).
For example, this year, my hubby decided he needed a new satchel (after all, a backpack looks pretty ordinary with a good suit). After much searching through designer boutiques, luggage chains and department stores, he bought the most amazing handmade satchel from Temono. It cost a packet, but we knew the maker, the story, the quality of the leather and the craftsmanship. Likewise, my Mattt handbag is looking great after 18 months, but after much overstuffing, requires a new zip. “Bring it in for repair, it’s all part of the service”, said Matt when I caught up with him recently at a market. You don’t get that from Myer!
This is an approach I’d like to make to all my purchases. Some may be mass-produced, but I’d love for most of them to be hand-made. I will aim for all of them to be of such a quality that they will NOT break (and subsequently be discarded) on their first use, and will have a long, happy productive life. I will recycle what I can, and avoid what can’t wherever possible.
One thing that has come out of 2010 is that there are an ENORMOUS number of incredibly talented people out there, producing high quality, long lasting goods with their hands, brains, and imaginations. In many ways, I see this as the way forward. Yes, there may be a world need for cheap stuff from China, but really, if we buy less, better quality stuff, that we really need, we are going to put far less strain on the planet’s resources. Now, more than ever, we hold an ecological imperative to reduce the amount of STUFF in our lives. And we can still have cool stuff!
Taking this approach, we will probably even save money.
And so, it must be time to make it public! The dreaded New Year’s Resolutions…
In 2011…
- I will invest (wherever possible) in the love and time put in by real people, not machines.
- I will choose carefully the things I need most, and buy only what my family really needs AND will have minimal impact on the planet (except for Lego – or is that a need?).
- I will use my knowledge and understanding to influence others, encouraging them to choose quality over quantity, love over gold, experience over ownership.
- I will share what I have (even if it is little) with those who have less.
- I will do whatever I can to change the world.
I’ll be interested to look back this time next year and see what has actually happened.
Happy New Year!
The card gods were kind to me this week! The cards chosen were from the Christmas Story Starters theme – If I could change the world... and Hand Made. Please feel free to share your New Years’ Resolutions or Reflections. We’d love to hear them (and we may even give away a pack of Story Starter cards of your choice).
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Renae says:
December 30, 2010 at 11:49 pm
Well put! I am now pondering my News Years Resolutions!
Kelly Exeter says:
December 31, 2010 at 11:50 am
Wow Cath – jsut about everything you have said above applies to me too. Very inspirational